The Eastern New Mexico University baseball team welcomes 11th-ranked Angelo State for the final homestand of the 2017 season. ENMU enters the weekend with a 27-15 overall record and a 5-9 mark in Lone Star Conference play. The Greyhounds currently sit in sixth place in the LSC standings, but are mere percentage points behind fourth-place Cameron and fifth-place Tarleton State for the final spot in the conference tournament.

The Texans take on nationally ranked West Texas A&M this week while the Aggies are off. Cameron closes out the regular season with series against Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

ENMU will recognize the 2017 senior class prior the series finale on Sunday. Matt Garley, Kyle Goldfarb, Scott Klein, Mike McNicholl, Zach Smithson, Dwight Velarde and Jesus Villalobos are wearing the home Green and Silver uniform for the final time in their collegiate career.

Infielder Alex DeLaCruz needs four runs to match the school record of 61 set by Tyler Hayes in the 2008 season. With a .440 batting average and .509 on-base percentage, the second baseman needs to raise his average by seven points and OBP by .023 points over the final eight games to break the school records. Outfielder Mike McNicholl is the primary run-producer for the Green and Silver with seven homers and 52 RBI.

On the mound, Keenan Dodd leads the team with a 6-2 record and a 2.70 ERA. If the Albuquerque, NM, native numbers hold, he would break the program’s all-time ERA record of 2.83 set by Keith Balderaz in 2006. Other probable starters for ENMU include Austin Paisar (4-3, 3.77 ERA), Scott Klein (4-4, 4.84 ERA) and Nick DeArmond (3-1, 4.10 ERA). Additionally, Klein and Dodd need 21 and 24 strikeouts, respectively, to surpass the team record of 83.

Relievers Victor Persad (0-0, 3.27 ERA, 2 Sv.) and Dwight Velarde (3-2, 4.15 ERA, 3 Sv.) are the top arms out of the bullpen.

Next weekend, the Hounds are idle before traveling to Odessa for the final series of the regular season against Texas-Permian Basin. For all the latest news on ENMU athletics, follow @ENMUBaseball and @ENMUAthletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

-Eastern New Mexico University-
Baseball
Will Edwards